T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh - Writer
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T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh began writing poetry, essays and stories as a child. In the fourth grade, she wrote her first play, a satire on smoking, and her first song, a cute little ditty about divine inspiration. Keymáh has written for television and theater, including her self-penned stage shows, “T'Keyah Live! ...Mostly,” and “Don’t Get Me Started!” each of which include original music, and “Some of My Best Friends,” (with contributions from Harry Lennix, Ali LeRoi and Angela Jackson) which garnered an NAACP Theatre Award nomination for Best Writing. She also co-pinned the shows, S.I.S.T.E.R. (with Keisha Nickole), and Sellout!?! (w Bryan C. Jones). She authored the book version of Some of My Best Friends, the popular coffee table book, Natural Woman / Natural Hair, and was a contributing essayist to The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery - edited by Rochelle Riley, Dining with the Ancestors, by Dr. Eric J. Chambers – and The HBCU Experience Book, edited by Tia C.M. Myree, Ph.D. and Christopher D. Cathcart. In addition to joining the groundbreaking television show In Living Color with her signature piece, In Black World... Keymáh wrote all episodes of her new media project, The Cool Crystal Show (www.Keymah.com). Her newest book is Cycle of Love: 28 Days of Organization, Rejuvenation and Meditation for Inspired Self Care.
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Some of My Best Friends: A Collection of Characters - Performance Rights
Some of My Best Friends by T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh with contributing writers Angela Jackson, Ali LeRoi, and Harry J. Lennix is an inspiring series of humorous, dramatic and / or poetic, socially conscience vignettes featuring a dozen characters, find their place in the world; trying to hold onto it; wondering what has become of their world;, looking to change the world, or creating a world of their own. The show debuted at sold-out shows in Chicago in 1991, toured the country and ran in Los Angeles and New York as well. It won an NAACP Theater Award for Best Play and was nominated for Best Writing. There is one song, and one dance in the show. Some of My Best Friends can be done as a solo performance (as T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh has done it) or with as many as twelve performers or even.. The show is ninety minutes and can be done with or without an intermission. A one hour version of the show is also available.
Characters: Cryssy (5-8 yr. old female); Shauntifah and LaKeisha (16-19 yr. old females); Son (18-19 yer. old male); Michelle and Woman (20-30 yr. old females); Eartha, Sista and Lillian (30-40 yr. old females); Sarah (30-40 yr. old White female); Melvin (30-40 yr. old male); Mz. Sheba (80 yr. old female). Narration begins the show and can be performed by an actor of any age and gender.
Setting: Various locations
Time: 1970's to Present.
Performance Rights:
The rights to Some of My Best Friends are now available for school, community and professional performances. Given today’s political climate, it is a timely theatrical showcase for a gifted solo performer or ensemble.
Characters: Cryssy (5-8 yr. old female); Shauntifah and LaKeisha (16-19 yr. old females); Son (18-19 yer. old male); Michelle and Woman (20-30 yr. old females); Eartha, Sista and Lillian (30-40 yr. old females); Sarah (30-40 yr. old White female); Melvin (30-40 yr. old male); Mz. Sheba (80 yr. old female). Narration begins the show and can be performed by an actor of any age and gender.
Setting: Various locations
Time: 1970's to Present.
Performance Rights:
The rights to Some of My Best Friends are now available for school, community and professional performances. Given today’s political climate, it is a timely theatrical showcase for a gifted solo performer or ensemble.
Meeting in School Building 17: An African Folktale Show - Performance Rights
Meeting in School Building 17: An African Folktale Show by T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh is a politically charged one act about a group of people attending a meeting of a quasi-secret, potentially illegal group formed in reaction to the passing of Texas Senate Bill 17, one of the three Texas bills outlawing diversity and inclusion on college and university campuses. Presented through storyteller characters, it honors and exposes the various roads that lead people to join such a group and investigates the arguments in opposition of it. The show debuted successfully at Texas Tech University in the spring of 2024. African drumming opens the show and is present in places throughout. The epilog / finale includes music and dancing. The show is sixty minutes without an intermission.
Characters: Goddess (unseen) - Black, powerful, motherly, all-knowing, female; God – (unseen) Black, powerful, fatherly, all-knowing, male; First Woman – Black, powerful sensual, wise, motherly female; Second Woman – Black, fierce, determined female; Third Woman – Black Indian, serene, awkward, searching female; Woman One – Black Latina, powerful, soulful, quick, angry female; Woman Two – Black Latina, proud, sly, self centered female;
Woman Three – Black Latina-ish, squirrly, sensitive, innocent female; Woman Four – White, eager, sincere, sensitive, tough female; Man One – Black Latino, versatile, adaptable, sincere, profound, struggling male; Man Two – Black Middle Eastern, innocent, sincere, lighthearted, romantic male. The God/Goddess lines can be pre-recorded and could be voiced by other members of the cast.
Setting: School building classroom or meeting room
Time: 2023
Performance Rights:
The rights to Meeting in School Building 17: An African Folktale Show are now available for school, community and professional performances. Given today’s political climate, it is a timely theatrical showcase that encourages discussion.
Characters: Goddess (unseen) - Black, powerful, motherly, all-knowing, female; God – (unseen) Black, powerful, fatherly, all-knowing, male; First Woman – Black, powerful sensual, wise, motherly female; Second Woman – Black, fierce, determined female; Third Woman – Black Indian, serene, awkward, searching female; Woman One – Black Latina, powerful, soulful, quick, angry female; Woman Two – Black Latina, proud, sly, self centered female;
Woman Three – Black Latina-ish, squirrly, sensitive, innocent female; Woman Four – White, eager, sincere, sensitive, tough female; Man One – Black Latino, versatile, adaptable, sincere, profound, struggling male; Man Two – Black Middle Eastern, innocent, sincere, lighthearted, romantic male. The God/Goddess lines can be pre-recorded and could be voiced by other members of the cast.
Setting: School building classroom or meeting room
Time: 2023
Performance Rights:
The rights to Meeting in School Building 17: An African Folktale Show are now available for school, community and professional performances. Given today’s political climate, it is a timely theatrical showcase that encourages discussion.
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